Over the past year, the Trapdoor Theatre Company received multiple nominations, recognition and awards, including 12 nominations at the John Raitt Awards for Youth (JRAYs) and the award for Best Set Design for the Urinetown set designed by Sara Stickler, Madison Roush, Pierce Livingston. Additionally, Nicholas Welter was nominated for Best Actor for Officer Lockstock.

JRAY is a program meant to encourage theatre production and student involvement.

But the Trapdoor Theatre Company entered other contests as well, choosing which productions to enter into the various awards programs. In January, The Crucible placed 4th in its award district at the California Educational Theatre Association (CETA) Festival.

Other awards and recognitions are still possible from other institutions.

For the second time in SJHHS history, the Trapdoor Theatre Company will perform at the Childress Music and Arts Commendation for Youth Awards (MACY) with its spring production of Oklahoma! The performance was selected from a field of 50 schools by the MACY Council as one of 20 that will perform at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. For the first time in six years, the company won the MACY award for Classic Masterpiece, for its performance of Oklahoma!

“We were the first performance of the day. It’s a little nerve-wracking,” said Nicholas Welter.

The company will perform sans-sets, using only costumes and a recording made for the event by the San Juan Hills High School pit orchestra. They will perform “The Farmer and the Cowman” and “Oklahoma.”

“Most of it we had already learned. We took care of the hard part and just had to work with stitching the songs together,” said Cole Morgan about the orchestra’s role in the performance.

“It was fun to celebrate all our hard work and be together once more as a cast,” said Alexis MacAdam, who plays Laurey Williams.

The MACY Awards is an annual celebration that honors high school students of the musical theatre, from all across Orange County, San Diego and Los Angeles.

“We’re performing in a competitive setting instead of a purely artistic one and that adds a lot of pressure because we’re eligible for Best Performance of the Day among so many schools,” said Kenley Ferris.

The Cappies, run similar to the Tony Awards, is an international program that recognizes high school students for their achievements in theatre and through journalism.

The productions of The Crucible and Oklahoma! are up for a total of nine awards, The Crucible for five and Oklahoma! for four.

The SJHHS Critic Team views other High School productions throughout Orange County and writes reviews with the potential for publication in the OC Register. A total of 11 articles were published by the team, who is up for Best Critic Team recognition. Lead Cappie, Chase Robinson, is up for Best Senior Critic for his six articles published this year.

On top of all the nominations in the other organizations Madeline Blomdahl made top 10 for OC Varsity Artist of the Year, and was nominated for Comedienne of the Year at the MACY Awards. Blomdahl also received the Highest Achievement award, for her performance as Ado-Annie in Oklahoma!

The Trapdoor Theatre Company closes their successful season with performances of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Kenley Ferris as Puck.

Unlike the original story, this specific play has a twist: it takes place in WWII England during an air raid in a deserted mansion used as a shelter.

Highest Achievement:

Madeline Blomdahl

Outstanding Achievement:

Cole Henriksen, Jude Patch, Nicholas Welter, Alexis MacAdam, Charles Lindberg, Will Parker, Laurey Williams, Ali Hakim, Jud Fry, Curly Mclain

Achievement:

Rose Krol as Aunt Eller

Special Recognition:

Paloma Chacon, Jordyn Margolis, Taylor Lewis, Cassy O’Brian

Bright Spot:

Rachel Sandefur, Brent Arciniega

CAPPIES NOMINATIONS:

The Crucible :

Special Effects, David Diamsay

Lighting Design, Reese Ravner

Marketing and Publicity, Gabrielle Heckler, Kenley Ferris, Charles Lindberg

Featured Actress, Madeline Blomdahl as Tituba

Featured Actor, Nicholas Welter

Oklahoma! :

Set Design, Sara Stickler

Comic Actress, Madeline Blomdahl as Ado-Annie

Female Dancer, Jordyn Margolis as Dream Laurey

Male Dancer, Benjamin Rutkowski

Critic Team :

Senior Critic: Chase Robinson

Critic Team: SJHHS

JRAYS NOMINATIONS FOR URINETOWN:

Actor of the Year- Nicholas Welter

Featured Actress- Kaylee Bashor

Cameo Actor- Connor Hill

Male Dancer- Kenley Ferris

Sets- Sara Stickler, Madison Roush, Pierce Livingston

Stage Manager- Sara Stickler

Ensemble- The Cast of Urinetown

Lighting- Brandon Ceballos

Choreography- Melissa Staab

Director of the Year- Cambria Beilstein

Costumes- Rachel Sandefur

Crew/Technical Execution- The Crew of Urinetown